Photograph above: Co. Limerick

Early Marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. coccinea Magairlín mór Family: Orchidaceae Early Marsh-orchid: Flowering May - July. Tuberous perennial. Native. Subsp. coccinea: Flowers deep reddish-pink, leaves recurved, unspotted. Can be abundant in damp dune-slacks, machair grassland and calcareous fens. Similar: D. incarnata subsp. incarnata and D. incarnata subsp. pulchella

     
Immediately above: Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp coccinea. Photographed by John Diggin on Bull Island. June 2009